TOP STORY

Quality Rather than Quantity: The Cord Blood Bank Dilemma
To ameliorate potency failures, it is essential to improve quality at each of the critical manufacturing steps wherein potency can be threatened, thereby creating homogeneous inventories of units with excellent quality and quantity. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

		Learn about the benefits of MethoCult® Express for cord blood samples by STEMCELL Technologies
		WATCH THE VIDEO

SCIENCE NEWS

M.D. Anderson Researchers Develop Tool to Measure Severity of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Symptoms
Researchers have developed a new assessment tool to measure the severity of symptoms that can complicate stem cell transplantation. [The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Press Release]

Blood-Chilling Device Could Save Stroke Victims from Brain Damage
A tiny device placed inside a central vein can safely refrigerate blood as it flows through stroke patients, lowering their temperature and raising the possibility that they might gain brain protection from hypothermia without having to be packed in ice. [Wired Press Release]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

The Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI) is Superior to the International Prognostic Index in Predicting Survival Following Intensive First-Line Immunochemotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
Applied here to 158 patients of the Nordic mantle cell lymphoma 2 trial of first-line intensive immunochemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, the MIPI and the simplified MIPI predicted survival significantly better than the International Prognostic Index. [Blood]

Cord Blood Transplantation: Evolving Strategies to Improve Engraftment and Immune Reconstitution
Novel strategies, including graft engineering approaches capable of improving T cell recovery, and pharmacologic interventions capable of preserving thymopoiesis and facilitating the recovery of a diverse functional T cell repertoire are being pursued; these approaches have great potential to further improve outcomes after cord blood transplantation. [Curr Opin Oncol]

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Activity in Asia: A Report from the Asia-Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group
The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation activity in nine Asian countries/regions was surveyed to overview the current situation. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

International Exchange of Cord Blood Units: The Registry Aspects
This paper describes the aims and activities of the World Marrow Donor Association Cord Blood Working Group which was established in 2007 to gather and exchange information about cord blood registry needs and activities, and to develop guidelines to support and promote safe effective international exchange of unrelated cord blood units for transplantation. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

The World Marrow Donor Association: 20 Years of International Collaboration for the Support of Unrelated Donor and Cord Blood Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
In this issue, the activities of the World Marrow Donor Association and a vision for future directions in the field are presented. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Successful Engraftment of a Second Transplant from Unrelated Cord Blood Identifying Acceptable Human Leukocyte Antigen Mismatches as Treatment for Primary Graft Failure Possibly Mediated by Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies After 'Mega-Dose' Haploidentical Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
Patients with preformed antibodies are at increased risk of rejection after solid organ transplantation; however, the function of antibody-mediated rejection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is still not completely understood. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Investigation of Functional IL-10 Gene Polymorphism and IL-10 Levels in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of IL-10 polymorphisms on cytokine levels in blood and saliva, in addition to the occurrence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease. [J Clin Immunol]

Roles of Dibutyryl-cAMP, 3-Isobutyl-1-Methylxanthine and Retinoic Acid in Aspects of Neural Differentiation of Cord Blood Derived Mesenchymal-Like Stem Cells
Researchers show that mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood are capable of expressing tyrosine hydroxylase and Nurr1, markers typically associated with dopaminergic neurons. [PLoS One]

Protective Effect of Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells in an Immunodeficient Mouse Model of Acute Tubular Necrosis
Amniotic fluid stem cells could represent a novel source of stem cells that may function to modulate the kidney immune milieu in renal failure caused by Acute Tubular Necrosis. [PLoS One]

INDUSTRY NEWS

BMTbase™ Version 4 Released
STEMSOFT Software is pleased to announce the release of BMTbase™ version 4!  Completely redesigned from the ground up using .NET technology, version 4 is a browser-based application allowing for easier user access, deployment and more robust database management and security. [STEMSOFT Software Press Release]

Pluristem Therapeutics Receives Data Safety Monitoring Board Approval to Advance to Final Dose Level with PLX-PAD
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced that it has received approval from an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board to advance to the highest and final dose level with its placenta-derived cell therapy product, PLX-PAD, in a Phase I dose-escalating clinical trial in Europe for the treatment of critical limb ischemia, the end-stage of peripheral artery disease. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. Press Release]

Lifebank Becomes the First and Only Canadian Cord Blood Bank to Achieve Industry-Leading Foundation of Accreditation of Cellular Therapy Accreditation
Lifebank Corp. announced recently that it has become the first and only cord blood bank in Canada to earn the industry's highest accreditation from the Foundation of Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. [Lifebank Corp. Press Release]

Merck KGaA and Millipore Announce Transaction
Merck KGaA and Millipore Corporation recently announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck KGaA will acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Millipore, for US$107 per share in cash, or a total transaction value, including net debt, of approximately US$7.2 billion. [Merck KGaA Press Release]

Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Provides $5.5 Million in Seed Money for Adult Stem Cell Research
The Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust during its quarterly meeting approved a proposal creating a virtual research center to be known as the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research. [Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Press Release]

Insception Cord Blood Program Expands to Calgary
Insception has opened a new office to help educate parents of the once in a lifetime opportunity of banking their child's umbilical cord blood. [Canadian Business Online]

Red Cross Blood Facility Stalled Again
Another delay has set back the proposed Red Cross blood facility for University Park. [Belleville News-Democrat]

StemCyte Opens Its First Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank of India
StemCyte Inc. U.S.A. announced the opening of its first umbilical cord blood stem cell banking facility at Apollo Hospital in Gujarat's Gandhinagar district. [Press Trust of India]

Cord Blood America Names Shamoon Ahmad, M.D., Director of Its Medical Advisory Board
Cord Blood America, Inc. announced recently it has named Shamoon Ahmad, M.D., M.B.A., FACP as Medical Director and Leader of its Medical Advisory Board. [Cord Blood America, Inc. Press Release]

Cord Blood Registry Launches Industry-Leading Innovations for Newborn Stem Cell Collection
Cord Blood Registry announced recently the launch of its new stem cell collection system that saves a greater number and diversity of a newborn's stem cells - from both the blood in the umbilical cord and the cord tissue itself - for a wider range of potential therapeutic uses. [Cord Blood Registry Press Release]

POLICY NEWS

National Institutes of Health Director Goes Shopping
Francis Collins, the new leader of National Institutes of Health, announced that he will spend more than $200 million out of the Common Fund over the next five years on seven programmes in areas ranging from global health to how to speed therapies to the clinic. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Launches 2010 Accelerator Program for Early-Stage Companies
The primary objective of the Accelerator Loan Program is to provide working capital to early stage life sciences companies that still are in the process of further developing their science/technology and have not yet raised more than $5 million in equity financing. [Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, United States]

Cross Organ Mechanism-Associated Phenotypes for Genetic Analyses of Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Diseases (MAPGen for HLBS) Research Centers (U01) (RFA-HL-11-005) [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals; Human Tissue Intended for Transplantation, 9226-9227 [FDA-2010-N-0066] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

2009 Biological New Drug Application (NDA) and Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) Approvals - Updated [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

2009 Biological Device Application Approvals - Updated [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

2010 Biological Device Application Approvals - Updated [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Food and Drug Administration Public Health Notification: Newborn Blood Banking, Inc. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Order to Cease Manufacturing of HCT/Ps: Newborn Blood Banking, Inc. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Advancing Regulatory Science through Novel Research and Science-Based Technologies (U01) (RFA-RM-10-006) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Review Considerations for Applications and Awards under the New National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Human Stem Cell Research (NOT-OD-10-056) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

UPDATE TO RFA-OD-10-009: OS Recovery Act Limited Competition: Methodology Development in Comparative Effectiveness Research (RC4) - Announcement of Non-Applicability of Requirement to Attend Meetings (NOT-OD-10-062) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Delays in Grant Application Submission to AHRQ due to Recent Winter Storm (NOT-HS-10-013) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Establish a New National Institutes of Health Common Fund Program: Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) (NOT-RM-10-002) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD and Other Dual Doctoral Degree Fellows (Parent F30) (PA-10-107) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (Parent F31) (PA-10-108) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31 - Diversity) (PA-10-109) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (Parent F32) (PA-10-110) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (Parent F33) (PA-10-111) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Will Provide Limited Supplemental Support to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Medical Scientist Training Program in FY 2010 (NOT-HL-11-103) [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]

In Vitro Diagnostics, Blood Transfusion: Blood Grouping Analyzer - Beckman Coulter Biomedical Ltd - Olympus PK7200 Blood Grouping System [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

EVENTS

36th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

12th Biennial Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Group (CBMTG) Conference
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, Canada

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010
April 17-21, 2010
Washington, DC, United States

British Society for Haematology 50th Annual Scientific Meeting
April 19-21, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

XXIII International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Hematology
May 10-12, 2010
Brighton, United Kingdom

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States 

8th Annual International Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Symposium
June 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

Select Bioscience's World Biobanking Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

International Society for Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH) 2010 Meeting
September 15-18, 2010
Melbourne, Australia

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Recruit Top Talent
Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization's career opportunities with Cord Blood News.
Visit here to post your career opportunities. 

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cord Blood News? Click here to submit!